Live Review: Heriot, Grove Street and False Reality | The Fleece, Bristol | 10/04/25

False Reality

Opening with Rudyard Kipling’s 1903 poem ‘Boots’ – now known for soundtracking the recent trailer for the upcoming film 28 Years Later – False Reality indicate or even promise a lot of things for their set. Hype, for a start. Excitement, anticipation secondly. The possibility of zombies, even. But whilst rage carriers are notably absent here, the crossover thrashers do certainly live up to some of the promises indicated. Riding high following a string of headline shows and sounding on absolute brilliantly form, the London unit don’t shuffle but spree through their set with all the haste and persistence of the murderous lunatics from the aforementioned upcoming film.

There’s nowt grace or hesitation to False Reality tonight, just the ceaseless stomp synonymous with the UKHC movement as of late that’s further complimented with that classic, lacerating and timeless thrash edge that’s clearly enjoyed by the battlejacket-donned punters here. ‘Cost of Spite’ stands as a set highlight, especially with it’s solo sounding akin to Slayer in their prime. Granted, it’s early, and whilst some of this large room may have all the energy of the undead, there’s still plenty of stank faces and headbangers abound clearly enjoying this fantastic set.

Photo Credit:
Kevin Ashburn (Birmingham)

Grove Street

Continuing along the edge of crossover thrash are Grove Street. Back in Bristol after supporting Power Trip just a few weeks back, the band’s position as main support on this bill feels a bit odd to begin with. Yes, they are undoubtedly a product of the hardcore and adjacent scene that has birthed all three bands on the lineup. But still, there’s a touch of contrast between what Grove Street offer and the musical threat posed by their peers tonight. Dare say it, as the band bounce around to the likes of ‘Ultimate Penalty’ there’s almost a level of playfulness and overt fun to their set. Though granted, it’s an expected to an extent: who can forget Grove Street’s origins as a homage to a certain video game we all played at a dubious age.

Regardless though, the at-capacity crowd here love it, and for good reason. As push-putters and two steppers mosh for supremacy whilst collectively trying to avoid the pillars that characterise this venue, Grove Street are musically tight, and maybe even more importantly, enjoyable to a daft degree. Tracks from their most recent record The Path To Righteousness are performed with a level of flair that ultimately showcases their right to be playing to crowds of this size, with ‘Ulterior Motives’ becoming the catalyst for the first stage dive of this evening. Differences from their peers aside, it does become clear why Grove Street have been handpicked to play main support here tonight; their energy can probably power this venue for a year alone.

Photo Credit:
Kevin Ashburn (Birmingham)

Heriot

As for tonight’s headliner, Heriot has a decorated history with this city. In 2022 the band played their EP release show to a sold out Crofters Rights. Late last year their played their debut album release show at the Exchange, a major jump in size from the venue prior. Now they’ve sold out The Fleece, a space almost twice as large as the room they conquered just months back. Quick leaps up the ladder indeed, but it’s clear they’re not done yet. Far from it. As they lurch into ‘Sentenced To The Blade’ prior to bludgeoning Bristol with ‘Enter the Flesh’ Heriot sound like a band with tightly closed fists, bloodshot eyes and jaws clenched so tight their teeth are close to cracking. They’re on a mission to the top.

Flying through material from their aforementioned debut Devoured By The Mouth Of Hell, Heriot genuinely sound furiously determined. It could be said that this band have long held a sense of hellbent determination that has allowed them to scale up the metaphorical ladder so to speak so rapidly. But here in this 450 capacity room, such intent feels almost palatable and borderline dangerous. Tracks such as ‘Siege Lord’, ‘Foul Void’ and ‘Soul Chasm’ sound positively lethal and are delivered with a sense of malice, their signature HM-2 delivered sound essentially driving pitters to cease both pushing and moshing in favour of just daftly lunging at each other. A sense of blind rage essentially becomes the theme of the evening, but as the band continue through their 45 minute set, there is more to this than just fury.

As Heriot flog Bristol to an inch to it’s life, it’s clear what has allowed this band to scale up so quickly is how they are able to channel and articulate their inherent extremity in a way that’s more palatable than most extreme metal. Agreed, most would argue that tracks such as ‘Solvent Gaze’ and ‘Mourn’ would counter such a notion of palatability, especially with the way they’ve delivered with spittle and phlegm tonight, but it’s not since likes of Rolo Tomassi have we seen a band able to deliver blinding extremity in a way that’s agreeable and digestible. A sleek performance of ‘Opaline’ validates such a sentiment perfectly, it’s growling beauty wonderfully showcasing the inherent nuance and intricates of this band. But still, the hyper-agression and musical ultra-violence is still the primary factor, draw and catalyst for Heriot; a fact made proven by a thunderous and pummelling rendition of ‘At The Fortress Gate’, a closer that bolsters the fact that this band have managed to engineer their sound to appeal to the masses without comprising the danger their name has become to resonate.

Upon leaving this show, it’s impossible not to reflect upon the posters that until recently adorned the walls behind the bar of this venue. Show flyers of colossal acts who The Fleece has hosted in bygone years, acts such as Muse, Radiohead and Amy Winehouse, just to name a few. Will Heriot reach such dizzying heights? Of course not, this music is far too obtuse. But there’s no questioning their future as one of the biggest and most celebrated names in extreme music. Whilst heavy music is becoming more and more commercialised in general, tonight shows how Heriot are able to still animate a sense of real threat in their craft whilst still being approachable to anyone with an interest in alternative music. Who knows just how far up that ladder this band is going.

Photo Credit:
Kevin Ashburn (Birmingham)